By Alex McCuaig

Black History

Brooks community establishes new black history in Alberta

Feb 10, 2020 | 11:48 AM

BROOKS, AB – It was more than a century ago that one of Alberta’s most famous cowboys died near his Duchess ranch after his horse stepped in a badger hole. But for John Ware, who was born into slavery in South Carolina, his story is all the more telling of that time in the province when it appeared that your skills as a cattleman counted more than the colour of your skin.

In the decades following his death and with the advantage of hindsight, Alberta’s black history was not so merit based.

“Black face for example was very common. In local theatre and parties,” said Philip Pype, archivist at the Esplanade Archives. “We have a fair bit of photographic evidence of practises like that.”

What drove those of African descent to Western Canada was opportunity, added Pype.

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“They came to Medicine Hat for many of the same reasons that everybody else came to Medicine Hat in that period. It was a new burgeoning settlement, there was opportunity here but unfortunately, they faced many of the challenges here in Medicine Hat as other places in Canada and the United States,” said Pype.

A century later in Brooks, AB, the chance for a better life and to raise a family in a community full of opportunity saw a large influx of Africans emigrate to southeastern Alberta with Lakeside Packers desperate for workers.

Originally from Senegal, Jeremie Diedhiou said Canada’s effort to recognize the African-Canadian community through Black History Month is something which will benefit his five-year-old son Alaphayil and two-year-old daughter Atem.

“I feel (Black History Month) is really important because I feel welcome,” said Diedhiou.

And when it comes to his children, he said, “we’re trying to tell them about black history coming from our country. And here, we have the opportunity to talk about black people. It makes them more proud to be Canadian.”

Edward Tandu said that racism still exists but the black community is no different than any other – they simply want respect.

“We are to respect you and people respect us as black,” said Tandu. “I think we have the same blood colour and together, we are human like you. And, if everybody know that, we’re going to love each other and it’ll be no problem for that,” said Tandu.

Black History Month was officially declared by the federal government in 1995 with the number of events connected to the recognition growing since.